It was an entertaining game in the end, with Seattle, and Dempsey in particular, doing their best to provide some intensity in their first competitive match of the year. They led twice, and were not so much undone by the quality of Club América’s attack as by their own lapses of concentration. And if they get eliminated in Mexico next week, any frustration about that will recognize that América are as vulnerable as they ever are right now.

Dempsey recognized that, or just cares little for reputations, but he can only do so much to open up América’s defense on his own. Obafemi Martins’ cutting edge was missed tonight.

Two away goals for América should be enough to see them through next week, and a nod to Oribe Peralta for reaching the 20 goal mark in CCL play with his team’s second goal. They were shaky on set pieces, but generally handled everything Seattle threw at them with poise. And when they sensed their pressure could tell, they were happy to commit players forward.

So an underwhelming night for the MLS sides and a blow for the status quo on behalf of the Mexican teams. Till next time, thanks for joining me this evening.

Final score: Seattle 2-2 Club América

90 mins+2: Silly yellow card picked up by Ivanschitz for dissent, as he protests another perceived América foul.

But now here’s a last chance for Seattle as Demspey earns a free kick on the very left corner of the box. Ivanschitz lofts it in and it’s headed clear. Darwin Jones shot is charged down...and that will be that for the game.

90 mins: “Fight and win” demand the Seattle fans, in full voice. Easier said than done, as Seattle finish the regular 90 minutes on the back foot. Two minutes to be added on, which will start with a Club América free kick in Seattle territory.

88 mins: Goltz whips the free kick low past the Seattle wall and forces Frei to parry the ball round his post for a corner. It’s cleared, but time’s running out for Seattle to take even a marginal advantage into the second leg.

86 mins: A Joevin Jones cross is deflected and loops up towards the spt to where Dempsey is tussling, illegally it turns out, to get on the end of it.

Darwin Jones comes on for Morris for the final Seattle substitution. And immediately Jones gives up a dangerous free kick 30 yards out and central. Before it can be taken Mares replaces Quintero for América.

84 mins: Seattle pressing, but América defending stoutly every time the ball comes near the box. Now they’re on the attack, and a weary Seattle defense stands of Aguilar on the edge of the box, allowing him to get off a shot he should have done better with. It bounces clear.

82 mins: Quintero catches Ivanschitz late as Seattle try to advance the ball up the field. Seattle take the free kick and move the ball up the field with more urgency than previously in the game, but other than a couple of charged down long shots, they don’t show any signs of truly stretching América in this sequence.

80 mins: Into the last ten minutes now with Club América holding the away goal balance of power. They nearly have an even better position as Peralta bursts into the box, only to stumble on the ball as he shapes to shoot. América retain possession though.

78 mins: Signs that the MLS team is tiring, while América push for the decisive breakthrough. Seattle counter and a smart Morris run sees him pick up the ball off the shoulder of the last defender, but he’s eased out wide and holds up the ball to little effect.

74 mins: ...Seattle were briefly stretched on that counter and relieved to see Frei get low to smother the ball in the end. But they’re facing pressure now as Club América sense a chance to effectively kill this tie.

Roldan on for Frieberg and Kovar on for Valdez as Schmid brings on two young subs to try and change the direction this game is taking.

GOAL! SEATTLE 2-2 CLUB AMERICA (PERALTA!)

Sambueza looks up from the right corner of the box and chips an inviting ball to the back of the six yard box, to where Peralta has ghosted in on the blind side to improvise a finish into the right corner of the goal. That’s his 20th CCL goal and a vital away goal in this tie.

68 mins: Andrade doing some good work down the left for América and this time Jones is marginally out of position as América switch play to his flank. He recovers enough to block Aguilar’s cross/shot, but AMérica are beginning to ramp up the pressure again.

66 mins: Everything good for Seattle is running through Dempsey, who is going looking for the ball more now.

Sounders down to ten men momentarily as Friberg is off the field receiving treatment. Can América take advantage? They’re attacking, but Jones battles superbly to crowd out Sambueza as he tries to squeeze past him to the byline. He’s had a solid debut.

64 mins: América happy to chop up the momentum of the hosts with more tactical fouls and given Alonso’s loss of cool there, it’s working.

Ooh, there’s a great chance opened up for Morris, as he works his way brilliantly into space on the edge of the box, only to horribly slash his shot — so horribly it’s almost a perfect defense splitting pass.

62 mins: Andrade comes on for Club América. He’ll replace Lozano. Meanwhile Valdez has picked up a couple of knocks and he’s on the floor again. Alonso is rather disgusted by this development and lets his feelings be known. He’s booked as a result. So that didn’t help.

60 mins: ...poor free kick from Dempsey this time and it deflects harmlessly off the wall and away. You’d have to think Seattle need a two goal cushion to take to the Azteca in the second leg — that’s a wasted chance. Though in fairness, replays show a hint of handball in the “deflection”.

58 mins: Frei was somewhat at fault for not getting down quick enough on the first goal, but he saved his team right there.

And now Seattle go up the other end and earn another dangerous free kick in Dempsey range as Sambueza brings down Friberg. He earns a yellow card for his problems and América have a free kick to defend...

56 mins: These next few minutes are crucial for Seattle as they look to hold then consolidate their lead. Great opportunism again for Dempsey, who looks to have benefitted from his first full pre-season with the Sounders.

América though have looed at their most dangerous in the moments immediately after they’ve looked most vulnerable. And now Frei has to come up big to stretch out a leg and deny Peralta’s low shot from inside the box! A warning for Seattle.

52 mins: America offering a lot of little fouls to break up play in the middle third, but Seattle generally content to play the resulting free kicks laterally to retain possession without causing much direct danger. They have a corner now though, after Morris’s cross is charged down...and...

48 mins: It’s an early corner for Seattle after some battling down the right by Valdez. And it’s Valdez who powers a header goalward off Ivanschitz’s corner. The referee had blown for an infringement before it deflected clear, but that’s another threatening set piece from Seattle — currently those have represented some of their best chances.

Second half starts

That was a real gut punch for Seattle, after Clint Dempsey looked to have singlehandedly turned the run of play and then balance of power in the tie, with his delicious free kick. From there, Seattle could have got to the half with a lead to possibly build on, but instead immediately found themselves giving up the away goal in the most straightforward fashion.

Seattle had started in lively fashion, only to begin to lose ground as Club América asserted themselves in the middle of the half. Dempsey’s intervention looked to have changed that only for the Sounders advantage to last a mere 91 seconds.

There’ve beens igns that the 4-3-3 will work for Seattle at some stage — flashes from Dempsey, Valdez, Ivanschitx, the overlapping Jones, and yes, Morris, that suggests it’ll be a success this MLS season.

But Seattle really need it to be a success in the next 45 minutes if they’re to have any chance in the second leg. They need at least one goal...

Half-time: Seattle 1-1 Club América

GOAL! SEATTLE 1-1 CLUB AMERICA (QUINTERO!)

Quintero’s been caught offside a couple of times in this half, but this time he times it perfectly to run off the last man on a ball over the top to run into the box and slide the ball under Frei for a big away goal. Momentum switches instantly back to Club América with the last kck of the half!

42 mins: Another decent Seattle build up with Dempsey trying to crank the tempo up on a series of short passes. Unfortunately it only serves to remind us of what’s missing with Martins and his inspired close control not being on the field. The chance fizzles out.

40 mins: Another awkward moment for Seattle as Quintero almost splits MArshall and Frei competing for a ball behind the defense. Marshall has to pull up sharply as his keeper dives forward to smother the ball. Still 0-0.

Finally another Seattle attack of note, after some good work by Jones and Ivanschitz down the left. The latter’s cross is headed clear, but for the first time in several minutes América looked off-balance in the build up.

38 mins: Seattle’s best chance so far was also the moment that seemed to inspire their opponents most, while America doubled their efforts after Sambueza’s shot rebounded off the bar. Now they get another look but Lozano’s low cross is met by a heavy first touch in the box by Peralta.